'Devastated' ICC to probe fixing leaks

Cricket's world governing body has said it will look into how New Zealand players' statements were leaked to the media.

21 May 2014 07:52 GMT

New Zealand player Lou Vincent had his comments to the ACSU leaked last week [GALLO/GETTY]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will investigate how evidence given to a match-fixing probe had been leaked to the media and take action against anyone employed by them if involved, chief executive Dave Richardson said.

The latest match-fixing scandal broke last December when New Zealand media reported that three former international cricketers had been linked to an investigation by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU) into alleged match-fixing.

Last week, British newspapers published excerpts of confidential statements from former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent, who had earlier said he was co-operating with the ACSU, and current captain Brendon McCullum.

ICC speaks

Richardson said the ICC "deeply regretted" the leaks and re-iterated that McCullum was not under investigation.

"We are taking all steps available to us to urgently investigate how certain information in the form of statements has come to find its way into the media," he said in a statement. "Of course, we recognise that this is a deeply concerning development for the stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the sport of cricket, and we wish to emphasise that Brendon McCullum is not under investigation in this matter."

New Zealand Cricket said earlier this week they were disappointed that McCullum's statements had been made public and would ask the world governing body to investigate the source of the leaks.

I'm being asked whether I am Player X. These allegations against me are a complete lie

Chris Cairns, Former NZ all-rounder

"Of course we are devastated with these leaks, but it is premature to say exactly where that leak came from and whether anyone involved in the ACSU was involved."

Player X

The statements by Vincent and McCullum detailed being approached by a former international player about the possibility of matchfixing. The excerpts of McCullum's statements identified the former international as 'Player X'.

The New Zealand Herald newspaper then identified 'Player X' as former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, who has consistently denied being involved in any match-fixing.

"I am aware that former cricketer Lou Vincent and current New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum have made a range of allegations against a cricketer dubbed Player X," Cairns said in a statement to Fairfax Media.

"It is well known that the ICC/ACSU has been investigating allegations of corruption and my name has been linked by others to these allegations. I am being asked whether I am Player X. Based on the limited information I have received during this investigation, I believe it is being alleged that I am that player. These allegations against me are a complete lie."